Chapter Text
“Push— That’s it, Naomi. Keep pushing!” The hospital room was filled with the chaotic sound of bustling nurses, beeping machines, and the steady, rhythmic pulse of her labor. “I can’t! It hurts. It hurts. I can’t breathe! Apollo!” Naomi, with her golden locks matted to her forehead, tightened her grip on his hand, clenching it harder with each wave of pain, as if holding on to something solid amidst the agony— even if that something was the very man responsible for her suffering.
“You did this to me! You bastard!” she snarled, her words punctuated by another wave of pain that surged through her body, particularly in her lower back. She exerted more force with each contraction. The doctor, positioned between her legs, shot a concerned look at her, trying to regain her focus.
Apollo looked as though he were the one giving birth. His brows furrowed, his lips pursed. “I know. I know. You hate me. But focus, Naomi. If you don’t, it won’t be just the child entering this world, but both of you leaving it.” He raised a hand to push her sweat-soaked hair from her forehead. “Be the resilient woman I know you are, darling.”
Naomi sobbed, her chest heaving. She opened her mouth wide and let out an earth-shaking, guttural scream.
“I see his head! She’s crowning! Get the clips ready, Karev!”
Naomi felt like she couldn’t go on. She thought this was just a simple, temporary problem—constipation, maybe. But no, she was carrying a child. A cryptic pregnancy, the doctors called it. A miracle, the nurses said. But Naomi called it a curse. She had been on the rise—her album had just gone gold. She had places to be, people to meet. All that was now interrupted by a baby. All because of one night with a guy at a bar.
In a tight-lipped manner, she implored, “Is he out yet?”
“You’re almost there, Mrs. Solace.”
With a grunt, Naomi corrected, “It’s Miss.”
The red-headed doctor’s eyes widened imperceptibly. “I apologize, Miss Solace.”
Naomi didn’t dare glance at Apollo. One final push, they promised. She gathered what little strength remained and pushed. With that, along with several released held breaths in the room, a massive weight left her body. Exhausted, she collapsed against the bed.
The room swayed, and dizziness crept in. Voices blurred around her, indistinguishable.
“Her blood pressure is rising! Get the baby in the crib and I’ll handle this!”
The last thing Naomi saw before her vision blacked out was the baby—his soft blonde hair glistening in the morning light, his soft blue eyes wide and tear-filled, a gentle innocence shining through his loud cries.
“William. His name is Will.” Her whisper was the last thing she managed before succumbing to the darkness.
✦ . ⁺ . ✦ . ⁺ . ✦
Naomi awoke to soft-spoken voices surrounding her. Where am I? She wasn’t fully conscious yet. Her gaze drifted around the room hazily, her ears catching the steady beeping of the heart monitor she was hooked up to. I remember now. I went to the hospital... I gave birth—wait. I have a baby. Oh shit.
Now aware of her surroundings, she heard the voice that had pulled her from sleep—Apollo’s. He was speaking to their newborn, so effortlessly, his voice filled with a tenderness Naomi hadn't expected. Will was in his arms, bundled in a viridian blanket. Naomi couldn’t help but wonder how many times Apollo had done this before—impregnated someone and had a child.
She made out his words to the baby—Will—in a hushed, affectionate tone. “Oh, my sweet William. My son. My sun.” He chuckled softly. “You are destined for great things, I have foreseen it. You will prosper, but you will also hurt. You must prevail. You are my son, after all. There will be trials ahead, some of anguish, others of magnificent joy.”
Naomi couldn’t make sense of the nonsense Apollo was spouting, nor did she want to try. She had nothing to gain from it. She shifted in her hospital bed, adjusting herself in an attempt to get more comfortable and signal to Apollo that she was awake. She succeeded, evident in the way his head shot up and he scrambled to his feet. Naomi still couldn’t understand how Apollo—a literal god—could be so awkward with both his words and actions. It was beyond her.
“Naomi! Do you want to…” He trailed off, raising the child, tightly wrapped in a blanket, as if to communicate his point wordlessly. Do you want to hold him? Naomi understood, but she shook her head. Instead, she quipped, “Have you seen my phone? I need to contact my manager.” Her eyes darted around the room in search of the missing object, but she didn’t find it. A sigh escaped her. “This is going to be such a mess to explain to Monique.”
As she continued to mutter about her ‘grievances’, Naomi’s hand found the button on the side of her bed, alerting the nurse. Apollo, falling silent, spoke again. “What are you planning to do? With Will, I mean.” His tone was uncertain, as if he was unsure what words were allowed to be said in this new territory.
Pinching the bridge of her nose, Naomi’s patience snapped. “That’s why I need to fucking talk to my manager, you nimwit!” Her voice barked out, a sharp jab meant to put Apollo on edge.
At that moment, a knock bounced off the walls, and the hospital room door creaked open. A nurse entered with a warm smile. “Hi! I’m Kaylee, and I’ll be your nurse for the afternoon. How can I assist you, ma’am?”
“Great, you’re here! I’ll be needing—” Naomi began, but was cut off by Will’s sudden, frantic crying. She glanced at the nurse, alarmed. The nurse, reading Naomi’s expression, offered the baby. “Here, Papa, go ahead and hand him over to—”
“No!” The room fell into tense silence, punctuated only by the baby’s screams. “I don’t want to hold him. Apollo, take him outside and get him to quiet down while I get my phone.”
To Naomi’s relief, Apollo followed her instructions without hesitation, though not without casting a mournful glance toward her as he left. Once the door shut behind him, Naomi turned to the nurse, her expression clearing. “Can I get back my phone?”
The nurse nodded quickly. “Of course! I’ll be right back with it.”
Moments later, Kaylee returned, handing over Naomi’s phone, wallet, and keys. “Is that all you’ll be needing?”
Gripping the phone like a lifeline, Naomi muttered, “Yes, that’s all.”
Kaylee nodded and exited, leaving Naomi alone for the first time in what felt like forever. Alone with her thoughts. Alone with her worries.
What if I can’t pursue my dream? She immediately silenced the thought. No. I can’t think like that. I’ll explain the situation to Monique, and she’ll know what to do.
She absentmindedly fiddled with her cuticles as the phone buzzed to life in her hands. Naomi unlocked it, her mind reeling from the past twenty-four hours. She had just been out celebrating her newly acquired gold album. How did a night out turn into this nightmare?
She quickly dialed the top number on her speed dial. The phone rang a few times before cutting off. I’ll call again. The second attempt went through, and Monique’s voice greeted her, full of energy. “Hey, Kid! I was just gushing about you to my co-worker Steve over here! Didn’t I tell you this kid's going places?”
Guilt surged in Naomi’s chest, and her voice faltered as she responded, “Uhm, I need to talk with you. Something just happened. Something… bad—I think.”
Monique’s voice softened slightly, but Naomi could hear the clink of ice in a glass. “Huh? Kid. What do you mean? What did you do?”
“I didn’t do anything, I swear! But please, can you go somewhere private?” Naomi’s voice cracked.
“Okay, okay. Fine.” Naomi could hear Monique shuffling as she moved to a different location—probably a bathroom stall for some privacy. “Talk to me.”
Naomi took a deep breath before explaining everything. When she finished, a heavy silence stretched on the line. It was unnerving.
“What?”
Naomi’s voice broke as tears spilled from her eyes. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t know I was pregnant! I swear I thought it was just bloating!” She hiccupped through her words. “Monique! Answer me, please!”
There was a long sigh on the other end. “Naomi.” Oh no. First name. “I need you to tell me if you’re serious about your dream. If you’re not, tell me now. This is a very serious matter now that you have a kid.”
Taking a few steadying breaths, Naomi responded, “Yes. More than anything. It’s been my dream since before I could walk. That’s why I need you to tell me my next move.”
Monique was quiet for a moment before she spoke again. “If you’re serious about this… then you need to give up the baby.”
A heavy stillness fell over the call. “Okay.”
“I’m sorry, Kid. But… artists who have a child don’t make it starting out. You either keep it, or you give it away. In my opinion? I say seize your moment. You’re skyrocketing, Naomi. You could be the next Madonna, but only if you want it and do everything right.”
Naomi didn’t respond right away, her thoughts spiraling.
“Truthfully, I’ve already made up my mind,” she said quietly. “I know that if I keep him, I won’t make it. So…”
In that moment, as Naomi’s back was turned to the door, Apollo walked in with an asleep Will in his arms.
“I’m going to give him up for adoption.”